Autumn isn’t complete for our family without making this easy Baked Apples with Cinnamon Sticks recipe.
Baked Apples with Cinnamon Sticks
Made with a handful of healthy ingredients, this is one of those vegan desserts that’s so satisfyingly spectacular you’ll want to make it year-round.
Healthy Comfort Food: Baked Apples Recipe
Sweet and spicy, baked apples are a fabulous shortcut when we want something warm and delicious without making an entire apple pie.
Easy Dessert Recipes with Few Ingredients
To make this gluten free recipe, I stuff the apples with cinnamon sticks and whole vanilla bean.
After that, I spike it with lemon rind and dried currants, though raisins or dried cherries work just as well, and a splash of lemon juice.
Easy Vegan Recipes
I hope this vegan dessert that’s a taste of fall lights up your palate!
Free exclusive eBook, plus recipes and health tips, delivered to your inbox.
Baked Apples with Cinnamon Sticks
Ingredients
- 4 medium apples, cored
- 4 thin strips lemon rind
- ½ cup dried currants or dried cherries
- 1 whole vanilla bean, cut into 4 pieces
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- ¼ cup lemon juice
Instructions
- Place apples in a baking dish with lid
- Stuff with lemon rind, currants, vanilla bean, and cinnamon sticks
- Drizzle with lemon juice
- Scatter remaining currants around apples
- Bake covered at 350°F for 60 to 75 minutes
- Serve
Kid Friendly Apple Desserts
I created this kid friendly recipe for my boys when they were little.
I used incredibly aromatic, healthy ingredients to help the boys understand the richness of complex flavors.
Our culture tends to focus on sweet and salty and, in fact, has a bit of a fixation when it comes to those culinary notes.
Easy Dessert Recipes for Kids
I made it my mission to teach the boys that there is more to palate pleasing than ping ponging between the two aforementioned taste bud ticklers.
Easy Recipes with Under 10 Ingredients
I also taught my boys the value of creating super simple dishes from scratch to save time in the kitchen.
Kid Friendly Recipes
This is one of those fabulous, easy dessert recipes for kids.
Simply core the apples, set out filling options, and let the little ones place the apples in the baking dish, then stuff the apples with goodies.
Easy Things to Bake: Apples with Dried Fruit
This recipe is ideal for apple picking season and one of our favorite rituals when we come home with the freshly picked apples.
Best Apples for Baking
You can use any type of apple to make this easy vegan dessert recipe.
Gala apples, tart Granny Smith apples, or Golden Delicious apples, whatever you have on hand.
One thing I don’t use is the Fuji apple because it’s expensive, and I prefer to eat this type uncooked.
Organic Apples
Take note, especially when preparing this dish for little ones, I use organic apples because this fruit is on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list.
How to Core an Apple
The most complex step in this recipe is coring the apples, which only takes a minute or two.
You can remove the core using this great tool, pictured above.
Do I Need to Peel the Apples?
No, do not peel the apples. Leaving the skin on keeps them plump as they cook and helps steam them.
Baked Apples with Dried Cherries
When I really want to take this vegan recipe up a notch, during holidays and other festive occasions, I use dried tart cherries.
I buy organic as this fruit is also part of the Dirty Dozen.
Thanksgiving Desserts: Baked Apples
Baked Apples with Cinnamon Sticks are wonderful on turkey day when you’re in need of last-minute Thanksgiving desserts.
Apple Dessert Recipes
Here are some of my other easy desserts with apples for you!
If you’re vegan or gluten free, my Baked Apples with Cinnamon Sticks recipe is the answer.
Vegan Desserts: A La Mode Ice Cream
Add homemade Dairy Free Vanilla Ice Cream to make this one of those incredibly indulgent vegan desserts.
Vegan Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
What’s your favorite vegan gluten free dessert recipe?! Leave a comment and let me know.
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives, I first published this Baked Apples with Cinnamon Sticks recipe in 2007.
Abbey says
Do these reheat well?
Elana says
Abbey, I havaen’t tried that so not sure :-)
Rahul Upadhyay says
Thank you elana.
I really loved this Idea.
Elana says
Rahul, you’re welcome!
jessica says
Best apple dish.. nice dish elana.. thanks for sharing
Elana says
Jessica, thanks for letting me know this is the best apple dish!
Micki says
Thank you for yet another great recipe. I wasn’t a big fan of baked apples until I tried your recipe. The lemon rind and lemon juice did the trick! I loved it.
Elana says
Micki, I’m so glad you loved the baked apples!
Nikki says
This recipe screams fall season and I love that! Thanks for sharing :)
Nikki
Elana says
Thanks Nikki!
Beverly Milley says
I have made these apples they are so good I look forward to sitting down and enjoying this desert. Thank you Elana
Elana says
Beverly, thanks for your comment! I’m happy to hear these are so good :-)
Sarah says
These look delicious and so simple! How can you go wrong with vanilla and cinnamon? Thanks for the recipe.
Elana says
Sarah, you’re welcome!
Laura Ashland says
These look amazing!! I am eating paleo, and this is something that would hit the spot for dessert! :) Thanks
Elana says
Laura, thanks so much!
Elena says
Yum.
I love baked apples.
In my family we usually stuffed them with walnuts, raisins, honey and cinnamon :)
Elana says
Thanks Elena!
Maureen Frank says
What apples are best to use for this recipe?
Elana says
Maureen, any apple will work!